Headaches and migraines can be the trickiest of symptoms to treat. There are headaches in the temples, over, behind or between the eyes, on the side of the head, the back of the head, where the head meets the neck, and/or the pain that feels like a helmet over the entire head. A headache may come with nausea. It may produce a general feeling of malaise, sluggishness, and outright exhaustion. The head pain may also have different etiologies, from stress, past head trauma, or for women PMS. In short, all head pain is different. Because of this, then all headache treatments are different from person to person, even day to day.
I’m going to talk about your very average, everyday stress headache and migraine that most of you have probably experienced.
For both the stress headache and migraine, I might start both treatments with similar points. LI4, between your thumb and pointer fingers, and LR3, between your first and second toes, are phenomenal points.
LR3
LI4
Individually, both have the ability to metaphorically drain the air out of your balloon. When the points are done together, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The combination treatment is called “The Gates of Buddha”. It is meant to help you feel as relaxed as if you were feet of the Buddha/God/The Infinite Universe. These points calm your energy and help you let go of your tension and stress.
For some, I might add on the ear point, Shen Men.
Shen Men
Located in the “superior-posterior section of the triangular fossa” (or just look at the picture), Shen Men is a great point to relax the nervous system, calm anxiety, and just chill you out.
For stress headaches on the back of the head, I would where the head meets the neck. GV15, BL10, and GB20 are excellent local points to further help dissipate the headache pain and calm the overall system.
Migraines can be a bit more complex, especially depending on the etiology. Generally speaking, a migraine is a rising up of energy that needs to be pacified. In addition to the Gates of Buddha, and Shen Men, I would probably add GB40 on the lateral side of the ankle and GB41 on the top of the foot. These points can help descend and disperse that rising energy, better allowing for a smooth flow of chi energy in the body.
To deal with the nausea and malaise that can accompany a migraine, several points may be used. My favorite point is PC6, on the forearm a few inches up from the wrist.
PC6
This is a classic point for nausea of any etiology. Used with SP4 on the side of the arch in the foot, they help to calm the stomach and pacify the mind. Finally, ST36, just below the knee is a good ending point to ground the energy and help you take that deep breath that you may have been holding in.
As stated in the intro, all headaches and migraines are different. But these points are as good as any to loosen the vise around your head and get you feeling like yourself again.